The system had awakened, but this time, there was no rain of gold, no thunder of authority, no billionaire status overnight.
No.
It was just him—Su Chen—and a quiet voice in his head.
[Ding. System baseline established. No rewards granted at startup. All progress must now be earned.]
A faint smile tugged at Su Chen's lips.
"That's fine," he muttered. "I didn't expect anything for free."
The wind rustled through the narrow alley as he stepped out of the small apartment he had called home for the past year. He passed by the familiar noodle shop, nodded to the old man who ran it, and made his way toward the bus stop.
One year ago, this walk used to feel like a defeat—like life had beaten him down into something small.
Today, it felt different.
There was a goal again.
He found a seat near the back of the bus and sat down, gazing out the window as the city passed him by. People walked in every direction, living their ordinary lives—clueless about the awakening of something far greater.
Su Chen didn't feel above them, though.
Not anymore.
He had lived among them. Worked minimum wage. Bargained at flea markets. Felt the chill of winter without heating.
He had become one of them.
But now… he would rise again.
Not as a god descending from the clouds, but as a man climbing from the dirt—one step at a time.
[Ding. First Mission Unlocked.]
[Objective: Earn your first recognition. Requirements: Complete a notable act witnessed by ten people. Reward: 1 Fame Point.]
He stared at the notification with a calm expression.
"Something small to start with, huh?" he said to himself, chuckling.
It was strangely fitting.
This time, he wouldn't just collect rewards blindly. He would understand the system, challenge it, master it.
He would use it like a tool—not a crutch.
The bus jerked to a halt. Su Chen stood and stepped off, finding himself at a nearby community park.
Children played. Adults jogged or walked their dogs. Vendors shouted about fresh baozi and tea eggs.
It was peaceful. Familiar.
He walked through the crowd, blending in. His eyes scanned the space, not for danger—but for opportunity.
If the system wanted a notable act, then so be it.
He would show the world the first spark of who he truly was.